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Date October 20, 2025
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Brown professor emerita Dr. Maureen Phipps elected to the National Academy of Medicine

The longtime professor at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School and School of Public Health received the honor in recognition of her leadership in advancing reproductive and maternal health.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] —  The National Academy of Medicine has elected Dr. Maureen Phipps, a professor emerita of obstetrics and gynecology at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, a member of its 2025 class.

Phipps is one of 100 new members invited to join this year’s class, which the academy announced on Monday, Oct. 20. Election to the academy is considered one of the highest honors in health and medicine and recognizes individuals at the top of their field who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

According to the academy, Phipps was elected “for her visionary academic and executive leadership in women’s health, and her transformative contributions to pressing health care challenges across state, national and global contexts.” The academy also noted her work “advancing reproductive and maternal health, championing evidence-based care and shaping policy solutions through trusted leadership, thoughtful research and strategic collaboration.”

Days after receiving news of her appointment, Phipps still felt “humbled and grateful” as she reflected on its significance. 

“My work has always been collaborative and has bridged many departments across Brown as well as the medical and public health community of Rhode Island,” said Phipps, who was also a professor of epidemiology at Brown’s School of Public Health. “I find myself deeply moved by this honor. It is an unexpected recognition of the care and commitment I brought to my work as a clinician, professor, researcher, leader and member of the community.” 

Phipps completed her residency training at Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and the Warren Alpert Medical School and joined the Brown faculty in 2001 as an assistant professor. At Brown, she served as chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, assistant dean for teaching and research in women’s health, and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology. She was also the executive chief of women’s health for the Care New England health system. Over two decades at Brown and Women and Infants, Phipps spearheaded numerous initiatives in research, education, policy and program development, including directing the federally funded Women’s Reproductive Health Research Scholars Program, leading the Rhode Island Task Force on Premature Births, and overseeing the Brown and Women and Infants Hospital National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health.

My work has always been collaborative and has bridged many departments across Brown as well as the medical and public health community of Rhode Island. I find myself deeply moved by this honor. It is an unexpected recognition of the care and commitment I brought to my work as a clinician, professor, researcher, leader and member of the community.

Dr. Maureen Phipps Professor Emerita of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
 
Maureen Phipps

Phipps’ research focused on women’s health — especially health outcomes of vulnerable and under-resourced women and their families — and her scholarly contributions involved collaboration across departments, hospitals and state agencies. She served as principal or co-investigator for various projects funded by the National Institutes of Health and other organizations. At Brown’s School of Public Health, she co-led the National Children’s Study research project, an initiative of Brown and Women and Infants.

Phipps retired from Brown in 2019 to serve as CEO of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a role she held until 2023. She held appointments as a member of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, president of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, and board member for the Council of Medical Specialty Societies, among other roles. She also started a business providing leadership support and guidance to health care leaders and physicians.

Phipps and other new members will be formally welcomed to the National Academy of Medicine during next year’s annual meeting in October 2026. She joins more than a dozen other Brown community members in the National Academy of Medicine, including Brown Provost Frank Doyle and the current deans of the Warren Alpert Medical School (Dr. Mukesh K. Jain), School of Public Health (Dr. Ashish K. Jha) and Engineering (Tejal Desai).

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Faculty and Staff Warren Alpert Medical School

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